ASER - Chapter 202
Chapter 202: Demise of the Emperor
Time passed, second by second. Old Man Yu and NO1 played their chess pieces faster and faster, chatting and laughing all the while.
Meanwhile, A'Diao quickly completed her task. The moment she broke the restriction, she snatched the book away, simultaneously replacing it with a similar-looking book she had prepared during the process. It was an almost instantaneous swap. Then, she quickly repaired the restriction.
While repairing it, she feigned deliberation and picked out two mid-tier Spirit King Dao Tablets and one Dragon Pill.
Done.
When A'Diao went out, Shangxie was indeed waiting, but the two Lesser Spirit Kings eyed her coldly.
Just as she was about to leave, swish! The two blocked her path.
Raising an eyebrow, A'Diao sneered, "What's the meaning of this?"
Shangxie came over to smooth things over. "They probably need to record the treasures Your Highness has selected, for the official records."
Just as he finished speaking, NO1 and the Mountain Head returned.
NO1 noticed the fleeting strange expression on A'Diao's face, narrowed his eyes, and smiled. "A'Diao, no need to worry. It's just a routine inspection. I believe Lushan's secret vault has similar rules, doesn't it?"
Actually, no, they don't. After all, those ancestors practically wanted to hand over their tombstones and ancestral property to me.
A'Diao said, "Oh, I took these..."
She took them out to show NO1. However, he produced a mirror—to be precise, a hand mirror.
"No need for such trouble. This is my Dantai Imperial Clan's Heaven Reflection Mirror, developed specifically for the treasury. Any treasure taken from inside can be scanned and recorded into the system."
What 'recorded into the system'? It's clearly to check if she had stolen anything else!
The two "door gods" saw A'Diao's expression, and their eyes lit up. She stole something! If she's caught, she'll definitely be in trouble.
Old Man Yu had also just noticed A'Diao's nervousness and thought she had indeed stolen something. He narrowed his eyes, about to intervene.
With a swish, A'Diao was scanned.
Nothing.
Apart from the three items she had taken out, there was no reaction at all.
NO1's expression faltered slightly, and the other two Spirit Kings frowned.
Really nothing? This Chen A'Diao actually didn't steal anything?
Amidst their surprise and suspicion, they saw A'Diao fiddling with her fingers—for example, tapping her index and ring fingers, leaving only her middle finger extended.
【From Lesser Spirit King A +1 Star!】
【From Lesser Spirit King B +2 Stars!】
NO1, seeing the middle finger, maintained his suave demeanor and said, "It's recorded. See, isn't it very convenient?"
Shameless!
However, it was their territory after all. Neither master nor disciple sought momentary satisfaction and were about to leave.
"It's late now, and the enfeoffment is tomorrow. How about you two stay in my imperial palace?" NO1 suddenly extended a warm invitation.
Before the two could react, a scream suddenly came from within the palace.
The originally silent depths instantly erupted into chaos. A'Diao abruptly looked up, her gaze piercing through space towards the place where the palace maid had screamed, reaching a certain palace.
In this palace, both palace maids and eunuchs were terrified, but thick black smoke billowed out from the open palace doors.
"It's His Majesty! Something has happened to His Majesty!!!"
A panicked message, like a clap of thunder, directly tore through the night sky.
A'Diao was stunned. She lowered her eyes, her fingers stroking her ring, and narrowed her eyes slightly. Her first thought was—What could happen to that old dog this late at night?
This was the imperial palace. Logically, Lushan shouldn't need to be at their beck and call. But after seeing NO1's invitation, even though Old Man Yu hesitated for a moment, he still went.
She suddenly had an epiphany: Perhaps Lushan's involvement with the Imperial Family regarding the fate of Tang Song is deeper than I previously judged.
The Imperial Family's position is actually more stable than many people think.
Because as long as the Imperial Family doesn't completely fall out with Lushan, or as long as the Imperial Family doesn't completely go against the fate of Tang Song, Lushan won't take the final step.
Old Man Yu went, so A'Diao naturally went too. At the palace gates, a crowd was kneeling, including guards, the commander of the imperial guard, and some members of the Imperial Family who had rushed over.
A'Diao glanced past these people and followed Old Man Yu inside. At a glance, she saw a man surrounded by several imperial physicians, who were frantically trying to save him.
Although covered by a dragon robe, A'Diao could still see that the man was completely naked underneath.
Is this that old emperor? How did he become so much younger!
He looked to be in his early twenties and had inherited the Dantai clan's good looks. He didn't look as shabby as he did when he was an old man, but... A'Diao still felt very uncomfortable. He was breathing, but his whole body was pale, veins bulging, and a strange black-red aura emanated from him.
A backlash.
While being treated, his gaze was fixed intently on them.
His mouth moved slightly, but blood trickled out, his eyes filled with resentment.
A'Diao frowned.
Why hate me? It's not like I harmed him. Unless... he's not looking at me.
As A'Diao glanced at NO1, she also saw a... desiccated corpse on one side of the bed, long ignored by everyone.
A naked, desiccated corpse.
Female, originally in the prime of her youth. A concubine's dress still hung on a screen to the side.
A'Diao lowered her eyes, lost in thought.
This old emperor had regained his youth ever since marrying Daoguang Jingci. Everyone in the world knew about it. Behind his back, people even made jokes, and some male cultivators had disrespectful and lewd speculations about Daoguang Jingci... In their eyes, this empress was probably married over for this very purpose.
This matter had long been a secret topic of discussion, and with the push from forces behind certain princes, it had already become a well-known secret within the country. However, most people didn't know that after regaining his youth, this old emperor, in order to speed up his cultivation progress, had resorted to the evil practice of "Plucking Yin to Supplement Yang," just like those heretical cults.
With their level of expertise, A'Diao and Old Man Yu could tell at a glance that the technique used to drain the female corpse was rather clumsy.
It was clearly his first attempt, but it had backfired.
After all, such evil practices weren't easy to manage and required a high degree of coordination. How could this old emperor be... so reckless?
If it was just recklessness, then pity this concubine.
If it wasn't just recklessness, still, pity this concubine.
While A'Diao was pondering, before NO1 and Old Man Yu could act, the old emperor's body suddenly convulsed. He clutched the golden bed quilt tightly, staring fixedly at A'Diao and the others, and reached out his hand... His flesh and bones suddenly aged visibly, then he spat out black blood with a gurgle, and his pupils burst with a pop.
Black blood spread.
Except for A'Diao and the other two, everyone else was silent as cicadas in winter.
NO1 looked coldly at the bloodstain on his robe and said faintly, "His Majesty has passed away... The entire nation mourns."
The emperor of an empire, dead just like that?
Both clamorous and silent.
Completely unlike the celestial phenomena that accompany the death of a high-level cultivator.
That's right, this old fellow was merely a mortal.
A'Diao sneered inwardly.
Passed away? Doesn't that mean a puppet will take the throne?
The imperial power of Tang Song will be even more concentrated in the hands of these old geezers.
Moreover, choosing tonight to commit regicide, they're directly using her enfeoffment to tie the old emperor's death to her and Lushan.
Who knows how the world will discuss this.
These old geezers are cunning and venomous.
With such a major event occurring in the palace, the news was still being suppressed. The Imperial Family needed to handle the matters of succession and national mourning internally before making an announcement. Because of this, it was inconvenient for A'Diao and Old Man Yu to leave.
Just then, someone from Kunning Palace came with an invitation.
The Empress invited A'Diao.
Old Man Yu glanced at A'Diao. After some consideration, she agreed. Old Man Yu then put his arm around NO1, "Your Dantai clan's leader has died; you must be very sad. How about we have a heart-to-heart talk?"
NO1: "..."
Kunning Palace.
Gauze curtains danced, orange light cast a warm fragrance. Daoguang Jingci, who was playing the zither, looked up at A'Diao and smiled faintly.
This scene almost made A'Diao think she was the monarch enjoying the beauties of the harem and neglecting morning court.
However, the monarch had just passed away.
Before A'Diao could even bow, the servants behind her withdrew.
Only the two of them remained in the entire hall.
A'Diao sauntered over, sat unceremoniously on a cushion, and reached for the desserts, delicacies, and milk tea that were clearly already prepared on the table. "Inviting me for a late-night snack?"
Daoguang Jingci: "Crayfish, want some?"
A'Diao: "Your old man kicked the bucket."
Daoguang Jingci: "Does that have anything to do with crayfish?"
A'Diao: "..."
True, it doesn't have anything to do with it.
Fresh, steaming hot garlic crayfish was quickly served. A'Diao dug in with her hands, eating and asking, "Did you guys do it?"
Daoguang Jingci didn't even bat an eyelid. She continued playing the zither, her tone calm and gentle. "People die in every era, regardless of status or nobility. Especially those in high positions of power; if they don't relinquish their position while alive, death is their only way out."
A'Diao sucked on the crayfish meat. "It doesn't seem like you're the one gaining a huge advantage, but you're definitely the one suffering a loss. And, of course, dragging me down with you."
Daoguang Jingci chuckled. "Dragging you down? Just because you and your master were also in the palace tonight? I imagine you could easily clear your names with a few tricks. You might even make the world think the Imperial Family deliberately implicated you. It couldn't possibly be because of me, could it?"
A'Diao rolled her eyes. "Why couldn't it be because of you? In many people's eyes, you and I have been colluding for a long time."
That did make sense.
The zither music from Daoguang Jingci's fingertips was soothing, without a ripple. "Then you have two choices next. First, collude with me. Second, collude with the Crown Prince who is about to ascend the throne."
She stated it plainly, indicating that this Crown Prince was already controlled by those old geezers from the Imperial Family.
A'Diao had guessed as much long ago. She twisted off a crayfish head. "Then I'll definitely choose the Crown Prince."
Daoguang Jingci showed no reaction, just looked at her.
A'Diao actually wanted to see her reaction, but she had clearly guessed.
"Ostensibly choose him, but secretly, I choose you. Happy now?"
Daoguang Jingci: "Why? You trust me, a member of a heterodox race, but not a new emperor who has always shown you goodwill?"
A'Diao sucked the meat from the crayfish, her hands and mouth greasy, not at all elegant or composed. But she smiled at Daoguang Jingci. "Your perspective is too narrow."
Daoguang Jingci: "?"
A'Diao: "Why don't you consider the possibility that I might want both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor?"
Holy crap!
Toilet went wild: 【6666】
Although the court's authority is still in the hands of those old geezers, who doesn't know how to put on a show? This soon-to-be Empress Dowager is a target for her to win over.
Daoguang Jingci was stunned for a moment, then chuckled and pressed down on the zither strings.
The music stopped.
She said, "Then, this Palace awaits Your Highness's grand arrival."
As soon as she left Kunning Palace, A'Diao saw a storm rolling in. The entire palace was covered by a torrential downpour, like a waterfall.
And she also saw the Crown Prince rushing over from the Eastern Palace in the rain.
Shangxie was leading the way beside him.
They ran into each other. The Crown Prince, a few steps away, looked at her, then bowed deeply.
The future Son of Heaven, oh. This is the only time he'll be polite to her.
Starting tomorrow, he would be the Emperor.
But as they passed each other, A'Diao's originally amiable and polite expression darkened.
She was thinking—Before this Crown Prince risked warning her about the curse, did he know that Chen Gui's remains were in the hands of those old geezers?
If he knew...
Whether she died or not, she would stir up a storm, putting the Imperial Family in an unfavorable situation. However, the old emperor and these old royal geezers shared power, which was not conducive to resolving the situation. This would definitely push these old geezers to act faster.
When the snipe and the clam grapple, the fisherman profits.
And the one who would profit would definitely be this Crown Prince—who had no foundation, couldn't cultivate, and happened to hold the legitimate claim, thus avoiding public criticism, and could successfully transition into a puppet ruler.
Thus, he was about to become the new monarch.
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